Obituary: Andrew Warren Barchas

Andrew Warren Barchas, steadfast family member and friend, died peacefully on May 6 at Stanford University Medical Center. He courageously fought acute lymphoblastic leukemia for 15 months, enduring chemotherapy, infections, amputations, and complications from a bone marrow transplant. Yet he never complained nor lost his humor and optimism.

Andrew was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 19, 1944, to Florence and David Barchas. He received a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering from Cornell University and worked for 25 years in the nuclear energy industry. In 1986, he and his wife, Karen, moved from Long Island to Marin County, where they started a family and a successful communications consulting practice. In 1997, the couple and their children Laurel and Kevin relocated to Truckee, where Andrew found great joy in skiing, astronomy, golf, biking, tropical fish breeding, and construction projects. He ran 16 marathons, training at altitude and in the elements.

Andrew volunteered as an ethics teacher for young children at the North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation. Later elected President of the congregation, he was instrumental in building its Tahoe Vista temple. Brilliant, jocular, caring, honest, patient, and brave, Andrew will be deeply missed by his wife Karen, daughter Laurel, son Kevin, brothers Richard and Jay, sister Marjory, and countless extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Andrew’s memory to the Stanford Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program. For more information, please call 650-725-1109.